5 Viable alternatives to the Toyota Innova

The Toyota Innova, ever-present, and ever-reliable. As a daily driver, it’s a no-fuss and dependable companion whether you’re out and about in the city or off to get some work done out of town. With its diesel motor, gassing up is affordable, and you won’t have to worry about parts and services since it comes from one of the most reliable car brands in the world, Toyota. 

However, you cannot discount what the other manufacturers have been doing lately. There are some very notable attempts to usurp the throne from the Innova in the MPV segment. We cannot ignore them now since the new crop of competitors looking to take the top spot are trying their best to make themselves known in the marketplace. While some options may come and go, here are five of the most notable ones in the market that we believe may be worthy alternatives to the venerable Innova. 

The Suzuki Ertiga has always been a viable alternative to the perennial MPV in the Philippines, but the Innova isn't the most modern anymore in terms of its powertrain. Suzuki's Ertiga Hybrid has a mild-hybrid system that extends the range of a full tank of gas, and it also improves the smoothness of the engine under acceleration. The 1.5-liter engine with the mild-hybrid engine makes the same power as it did before with 103 hp and 138 Nm of torque mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. 

Along with being a mild-hybrid system, the model also boasts other features like Engine Auto Stop-Start System (EASS), as well as a boasted 7.6-percent improvement over the previous Ertiga's fuel consumption. 

Now, here’s another alternative, but this time with more power over the Suzuki, and a comparable amount of power compared to the Innova itself. This is the Maxus G50, an MPV that matches the Innova’s purported eight-seating capacity. With 167 hp and 250 Nm of torque, it’s definitely no slouch, and it can give the Toyota a run for its money. All of this power comes from a turbocharged four-cylinder motor, and instead of the traditional six-speed, it makes do with seven ratios in its dual-clutch transmission (DCT). 

It also gets a comparable amount of features when pitted against the Innova given its cruise control and its comparable infotainment system. It is also a unibody chassis underneath, so that makes it more comfortable than the Innova over bumps and other potholes. As for space, it’s similar to the Innova 8-seaters in terms of layout but offers up so much more space in the middle and rear rows of the cabin. 

Mitsubishi is probably Toyota’s closest competitor, but the Xpander Cross doesn’t exactly stack up or fall short of the Innova since they are two very differently constructed and designed with the Innova sporting a more SUV-like approach to its build, while the Xpander takes a more crossover-like stance. On top of that, you also get gasoline instead of diesel in the Xpander Cross, which can be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it. 

In terms of power, the Xpander Cross makes only about 100 horses under its hood, but that motor is plenty capable to get you up to Baguio with a few passengers on board. Even if it isn’t a diesel, it still has the ability to hold a lot of cargo and also deliver a frugal fuel consumption experience whether in the city or on the highway. If the Xpander Cross, however, is a little too over the top for you or a little too pricey, then check out the standard Xpander. 

If you want to keep things within the Toyota stable, one previous recommendation that we had was the Toyota Rush. However, times have changed and Toyota is moving forward with two rather interesting models in the lineup which include the Avanza and the Veloz. The Veloz is the snazziest option among all three, and it gets a unibody chassis, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 105 hp and 138 Nm of torque mated to a CVT, and it returns decent amounts of practicality with its seven seats, and its spacious cargo area. 

Based on the price of the Innova, the Veloz is the closest, but still rather affordable in comparison. You get a full suite of features, but at the same time, there is also a case to be made for the even more affordable Toyota Avanza if you don't mind the downgrade in terms of the number of features and even the engine. Otherwise, the Rush is still available as an option to you. 

When you're looking for a no-fuss machine to bring you and your family through the metro and beyond, then the Livina is something to consider. The platform-twin of the Xpander, the Livina has a good amount of things going for it, but not too many that overcomplicate the experience. While the model's a bit on the outdated side of things in terms of features, it's not totally obsolete and functions very well as a multi-purpose vehicle, as its segment suggests. 

The Livina comes equipped with the basics, a head unit with Bluetooth, and a frugal 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, seven seats with tons of space in the cabin, and looks that are a little more unique out on Philippine roads.